Category: Hamfests

Had a really great time at this year’s Charleston Hamfest. With a few more hamfests under my belt and a better idea of what I’m looking at, it was easier to be more targeted with my shopping/browsing.

I sat in on the ARRL forum, where an update on ARRL activities was provided by Jim Boehner/N2ZZ, the Roanoake Division vice-director. Not really a whole lot I hadn’t already heard or read about on the ARRL website but still nice to hear the latest news. His update was followed by a very interesting behind-the-scenes look at the ARRL Lab given by Bob Allison/WB1GCM.

In the afternoon, I helped out with the CARS amateur radio licensing test session. Very good turnout for the testing session. Had 13 people in the room to take the test for upgrading or new license. Several new hams with Tech licenses left, and a few other hams walked out with new privileges. Very pleased to have been able to be part of that.

There were a lot of things that were very tempting to buy. One person had a lot of Morse code keys (mostly bugs and paddles), including a straight key that I was very tempted to buy (the one with the red knob in the lower left corner).

Instead of spending most of my hamfest budget on just one thing though, I decided to spend it on lots of little things, which turned out to be the better choice I think. I came back with a pretty good haul today.

There’s a couple bags of diodes I picked up (I think I have a lifetime supply of 1N4148 diodes now…100 for $1 was a deal I couldn’t pass up), some BNC and SO-239 panel connectors, a 4:1 balun, a couple of center insulators for making dipoles and a couple bundles of test leads.

From the “Free Stuff” table, I grabbed a couple of antennas (or bundles of wires that used to be antennas), some random pieces of RG-8 coax and some C battery holders.

I recall a while ago one of the local hams telling people to use these to make battery packs for HTs, because in an emergency situation AA and D cells are going to be the first thing stores run out of. I figure I can get some C batteries and put them to work as a power supply.

Someone had put an old Heathkit oscilloscope on the free stuff table, but by the time i went by for a second look, someone else had grabbed it. Note to self: If it’s on the Free Stuff table and you think you might want it, grab it.

I also added a couple more Forrest Mims Engineering Notebooks to the bookshelf.

I think I have everything I need to build at least a couple dipole antennas. Now to build them, and find a place to put them up…

All in all, a very good hamfest, even though it is small.

This year, I hope to be able to visit some other hamfests in the SC area (within an hour or two drive) and see what they’re like.

Coming up in a few weeks is the Charleston Hamfest and “Computer Show” (experienced hamfest goers will know the reason for “Computer Show”).

The Hamfest is February 1 at the Armory Park Community Center in North Charleston, just off East Montague Ave. Admission to the hamfest is $5 and doors open at 8AM. I’ll be helping out in the tailgating area this year. Hope the weather is a little warmer than last year and that there are more people tailgating this year than last year.

As with most hamfests, there are prize drawings: $400, $200 and $100 are the main prize drawings. There will also be other door prizes drawn as well. This year, one of the club members donated a Kenwood TM241 2m radio which will be given away as a door prize this year (I’m told you have to be present to win the radio and door prizes, but not the cash prizes).

VE testing will also be offered at the hamfest so if you’ve been thinking about getting your amateur radio license, start getting ready. Once you pass, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to buy everything you need to get on the air at the hamfest!

Charleston Hamfest is also looking for a forum presenter or two. If you feel like giving a presentation to a bunch of radio/electronics geeks drop a note and I’ll put you in touch with the People In Charge.

Last year I scored a lighted magnifier for the workbench that I’ve been getting a lot of use out of. Probably the best $5 I’ve spent in a long time. Hopefully I’ll find something equally good this year. I’ll have to think about what I want to acquire. Maybe some supplies for building antennas and some cable adapters.

Road tripping out to Atlanta for the Atlanta Hamfest this weekend. It was at Atlanta Hamfest last year that I first got my amateur radio license, so that means it’s been just about one year that I’ve been a license amateur radio guy.

This year I’ll get to help out as a VE at the testing session held at the hamfest. My first time as a VE!

The list of forums looks pretty interesting this year. I think I want to go check out the Linux in the Shack and the QRP forums.

This time I’ll know a little more about what I’m looking at and looking for at the hamfest. At the top of the list will be things for the workbench: coax cables, various adapters and connectors, maybe a key or paddle, and some antenna making supplies.

Looking forward to the hamfest this weekend. I wonder who won’t win the door prize (a Kenwood TS-590S)